In case you missed it, we had rain the past two days, and our roses just loved it. They were heavy, drooping their little heads a bit, but smelling so sweet. The fragrance nearly knocked me over when I got out of the car near them the other day. I just had to get some photos, so when my husband came out, and I asked him to take some for me. This is one of them.
Knitting
The big news on the knitting front is that I managed to finish my Spirit of the Southwest shawl the other day–actually, it was on Good Friday. I don’t have it dressed, but when I do, I’ll post a photo. I’ve already put it to work. This morning I was up early, very sick, and I found I was chilling. I didn’t feel like going downstairs for a sweater, and I didn’t want to disturb my husband who was in the bedroom asleep. Then it dawned on me that I had no less than three shawls in their undressed state in my knitting bag right beside me. So I hauled the Southwest out, wrapped myself in it, and promptly fell asleep. I must remember: shawls work even if they aren’t in their “perfect” state.
I took time out Saturday to wind some of my yarn stash into balls. I got out my swift and wound the yarn onto paper towel tubes. I made myself a promise that I would get a ball winder the next time I could. I have several other skeins that I need to wind. I got the yarn wound, and I will use it to make myself some new socks. I’m not sure what pattern I’ll use, though.
This yarn is Socks that Rock from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. I bought this yarn some time ago–a year or so ago, in fact. I was a bit upset to discover recently that a few people who have used this wool have found it to felt in the washer. I hope they are the exception, not the rule. However, I’ve decided to treat it with kid gloves. I’ll be very careful with mine and hope for the best. By the way, this color is Blue Moon Stone. This is knitting up beautifully. The colors just sort of meld together as I knit it. I’ve started some socks with it. I’ll show you those when I have a pattern decided on. I have started them toe up, so I’ve got to decide soon. I think I lack about four rows having the toes done on both socks, so I have to put up or shut up soon.
New Shawl Sighting
Someone was talking about a new shawl by Evelyn Clark. Well, I had to check that out right away. Come to find out it was the winner in a contest held by Buffalo Gold. If you go here, you can see it. The pattern for the shawl is in the Winter, 2007, Wild Fibers magazine. Now, we don’t get that magazine around here, so I ordered it from The Mannings. Also, if you write Ron at the address on the Buffalo Gold page, he’ll send you the chart. He had mine to me in a flash. You’ll still need the magazine, though, for the instructions. I think it’s a lovely shawl. Evelyn does fabulous shawls, and I’m sure the pattern is another honey.
By the way, when you’re on the Buffalo Gold site, look at page two of the entries for the contest. There’s a lovely shawl by Ann E. Dill there, Frost Flower Circular Shawl. That’s a beauty too.
How to Make a Kitty Sandwich
Have you ever had a kitty sandwich? I have. Over Easter when the temperatures dropped, Charming was tucked into her basket with a little pink fleece cover over her. Lucky had been on the couch, but he got cold and wandered over to Charming’s basket, peered over the side, and gingerly took a step inside. When there was no warning growl from Charming, he proceeded to walk on her until he found a place he could tuck himself into the side of the basket. This meant that he was mostly lying on top of her; she fills that basket. I waited for an explosion from the “big” kitty, but it didn’t come. After I took the photo, I felt sorry for Lucky lying on top with his back exposed, so I covered him up too; that’s how you make a kitty sandwich.
Books I’m Reading
My reading has fallen off some. I generally read in bed at night just before I go to sleep, but lately I’ve been so tired, that I seldom get much reading done. I’m still working on Blue at the Mizzen. I ordered the last book in the series and a couple of knitting books, but it will be a while before I get them in.